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McDonogh School has earned five notable rankings from Niche, and the reasons behind each one say something meaningful about what makes this community distinctive and transformational.

#1 Best High School for STEM in Baltimore
Students don’t just study STEM at McDonogh — they ask bold questions, test ambitious ideas, and pursue real-world solutions. From Genetics and Biotechnology to Computational Physics, Neuroscience, and 3D Modeling, the range of courses available gives curiosity room to grow. The combination of passionate teachers and genuinely curious students creates the kind of energy that turns a question into a discovery.

#1 Best High School for Athletes in Maryland
More than 150 recent McDonogh graduates now compete in the sport they love at the college level — a number that reflects not just athletic talent but the culture that surrounds it. McDonogh athletics develop discipline, resilience, and team spirit alongside sport-specific skills, and those qualities outlast any season. What students learn on McDonogh's fields and courts tends to show up everywhere else in their lives.

#2 Best College Prep Private High School in Baltimore
McDonogh graduates arrive on college campuses ready for what no syllabus can fully prepare them for — rapid change, unfamiliar challenges, and the need to collaborate across differences. The goal is never simply to teach content; it is to develop students who can think critically, apply what they know to novel situations, and adapt when the ground shifts beneath them. The results speak for themselves: 94% of parents of recent graduates surveyed say McDonogh prepared their child extremely well for college-level work. By that measure, college preparation at McDonogh is less about getting in and more about being ready. Hear what recent graduates and their parents are saying.

#2 Best Private K–12 School in Baltimore
Spanning prekindergarten through twelfth grade, McDonogh is built on the idea that every stage of a child's education matters — and that how a child feels about learning shapes everything that follows. From the wonder of early childhood to the purpose and confidence of senior year, the years in between are marked by growth, friendship, and a genuine sense of belonging. Our rigorous academic program builds the knowledge, skills, and resilience students need to excel far beyond graduation.

#2 Best Boarding School in the Baltimore Area
McDonogh's five-day boarding program is designed around a simple but powerful insight: students grow best when they have both independence and roots. For Upper School students who board, weekdays bring the energy of a close-knit residential community — late-night conversations, shared meals, and the particular kind of friendship that forms when you live alongside your classmates. Weekends bring family, home, and the people who know students best. By design, five-day boarding is an extraordinary way to prepare students for college life as they learn to manage their time and freedom.